Careers in home care

How to Become a Caregiver in Oregon

Registration, background checks, training and pay, explained.

A guide to the general steps for becoming a caregiver in Oregon: required registration and background checks, the optional CNA certification path, typical training and public wage data.

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Published September 27, 2026 by EQC Home Care

People come to caregiving work in Oregon from a lot of different starting points, and the exact paperwork depends on how you’ll be employed. Broadly, Oregon caregivers fall into two groups: those employed directly by a home care agency, and those registered as homecare or personal support workers who are employed by the individual receiving Medicaid-funded services. Both paths require a criminal background check. Neither path requires a nursing certification to get started, though it’s available if you want it.

This page walks through the general requirements as Oregon publishes them, the optional path to becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), the kind of training caregivers typically complete, other common requirements, and wage information from public labor-market sources. It’s general information, not legal or career advice for your specific situation, and it isn’t a description of any single employer’s policies, pay or training program. Requirements change, so confirm current details with the Oregon agencies linked below, and ask a specific employer about its own hiring process.

Registration and background checks

Oregon law requires a criminal history background check for people who provide paid, direct care to children, older adults or people with disabilities, whether they work for an agency or independently (ORS 443.004 and 443.006). The check is run through the state’s Background Check Unit, using an online system called ORCHARDS, and typically involves a state and federal fingerprint-based check. A registration or background check clearance generally needs to be kept current with periodic rechecks rather than being a one-time step.

From there, the path depends on who employs you:

Agency-employed caregivers work directly for a licensed home care agency, which is responsible for running the required background check and any additional hiring screening as part of its own state licensing requirements. You apply to the agency itself, the same way you would for most jobs.
Homecare and personal support workers are employed directly by the individual receiving services, usually through Oregon’s Aging and People with Disabilities (APD) or Developmental Disabilities (DD) programs. This path goes through the Oregon Home Care Commission (HCC), which maintains a registry of workers who have completed the required application, provider enrollment agreement and background check. Registration is maintained through periodic rechecks, typically every two years.

The optional path: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

Becoming a CNA is not required to work as a caregiver or personal support worker in Oregon, but it’s a common next step for people who want it: it’s regulated separately by the Oregon State Board of Nursing (OSBN) and can open up additional job settings beyond personal and companion care.

As OSBN publishes the requirements, becoming a CNA in Oregon generally involves:

Completing an OSBN-approved training program: at least 155 total hours, made up of 80 hours of classroom and lab instruction and 75 hours of supervised clinical experience. Community colleges and other approved training providers offer these programs.
Passing a two-part competency exam covering knowledge and hands-on skills, administered through OSBN’s testing vendor.
Completing a separate fingerprint-based criminal background check through OSBN’s vendor, in addition to any background check required by an employer.
Being placed on the Oregon CNA Registry, maintained by OSBN, once the exam and background check are complete. You need an active registry listing before you can work in a CNA role.

Keeping a CNA certification current

A CNA certification isn’t indefinite. OSBN generally requires at least 400 hours of paid work performing CNA duties, under supervision, within the prior two years to renew a certification. If you fall short of that requirement, OSBN’s current rules explain the options, which can include retesting. Because renewal rules can change, check OSBN’s CNA page directly as your renewal date approaches.

Typical training for caregivers

Outside of CNA certification, Oregon caregivers typically complete training in a few recurring areas, though the exact curriculum and hours vary by pathway and employer: safe body mechanics and transfer techniques, infection control and universal precautions, communication with the people you support, recognizing and reporting abuse or neglect, and privacy and confidentiality.

Homecare and personal support workers registering through the Oregon Home Care Commission complete required basic training as part of that registration. Caregivers hired by an agency typically go through that agency’s own orientation and onboarding, which can include additional training specific to that employer. Because training requirements and formats change, confirm the current curriculum with the Home Care Commission or with the specific employer you’re applying to.

Other requirements to know about

A few other requirements come up across Oregon’s caregiving pathways, though the specifics depend on the setting, the program and the individual employer:

Age: Oregon’s caregiver qualification rules commonly set a minimum age of 18. Some care settings additionally require a caregiver to be at least 21 before working alone for an extended period or serving as the caregiver in charge.
CPR and First Aid: homecare and personal support workers registering through the Oregon Home Care Commission are required to hold current CPR and First Aid certification that includes an in-person skills check; the Commission covers the cost of this training for eligible workers. Requirements for agency-employed caregivers are set by the employer.
Health screening: some employers and care settings ask for a tuberculosis (TB) test or other health screening before you start. This isn’t universal, so ask a specific employer whether it applies.
A valid driver’s license and reliable transportation are often preferred, and sometimes required, for roles that involve traveling between clients’ homes or running errands as part of the job.

What caregivers in Oregon typically earn

For a general sense of pay in this field, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program publishes state-level wage data for the occupational category that covers personal care and in-home aide work (SOC code 31-1120). In its most recently published estimates (May 2024), Oregon’s reported median wage for this category was higher than the U.S. median for the same category.

The Oregon Employment Department’s QualityInfo site publishes its own occupation and wage lookup tools using this same kind of data, broken out by Oregon region, which is generally a better starting point than a single statewide number if you want figures closer to where you’d be working.

Pay also depends on how you’re employed. Homecare and personal support workers registered through the Oregon Home Care Commission are generally paid an hourly rate for Medicaid-funded hours that is set through Oregon’s separate collective bargaining process for that workforce, not by an individual client; the Commission’s workforce page explains where to find the current rate. Agency-employed caregivers are paid by the agency that hires them, at a rate that agency sets.

None of this is a rate any specific employer pays. Actual pay varies by employer, experience, certification and location within Oregon. Ask any employer you’re considering about its current pay directly, and check the sources below for the most current published figures.

Where to start

In general, getting started as a caregiver in Oregon looks something like this. The order can shift depending on your path and the specific employer or program.

Decide which path fits you: applying directly to a home care agency, or registering as a homecare or personal support worker through the Oregon Home Care Commission.
Complete the required criminal background check for that path, through the agency you apply to or through the Commission’s ORCHARDS process.
Decide whether you want to pursue CNA certification. It isn’t required to start, and you can add it later if it fits your goals.
Apply to agencies hiring caregivers, or complete Home Care Commission registration if you’re pursuing that path.
Complete your employer’s (or the Commission’s) required orientation, CPR/First Aid and other training before starting paid work.

Looking for caregiving work in the Portland area?

Home care agencies in the Portland area, including EQC, hire caregivers directly as employees. If you’re exploring agency employment rather than Home Care Commission registration, see EQC’s current caregiver openings and general hiring process on the Careers page.

See the Caregiver/CNA opening
All open roles at EQC

Questions and answers

Do I need to be a CNA to work as a caregiver in Oregon?

No. CNA certification is a separate, optional credential regulated by the Oregon State Board of Nursing. Many caregiving and personal support roles in Oregon don’t require it, though it can open up additional job settings.

What is the Oregon Home Care Commission Registry?

It’s a registry, maintained by the Oregon Home Care Commission, of homecare and personal support workers who are employed directly by the individuals they support through Medicaid-funded programs such as Aging and People with Disabilities (APD) and Developmental Disabilities (DD) services. It’s a different path from applying to work for a home care agency, though both require a background check.

Do I need CPR and First Aid certification?

Homecare and personal support workers registering through the Oregon Home Care Commission are required to hold current CPR and First Aid certification with an in-person skills check, and the Commission covers that training’s cost for eligible workers. Requirements for agency-employed caregivers are set by the specific employer, so ask directly.

Where can I check the current requirements myself?

Start with the Oregon Department of Human Services’ background check and homecare workforce pages and the Oregon State Board of Nursing’s CNA program page, both linked below. Requirements and processes can change, so confirm details there before you apply.

Sources

This page draws on the following public sources; check them for the most current rules:

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